Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Hello All,
Despite the crappy weather, the Time Trials must go on and go on they will. We only have 10 days to get the trails ready to go and it looks like more rain for the next couple. We need to have a work day so we can finish the new beginner section of the River Trail for the kids race. We also need to get the rest of the trails groomed and ready to go for race day.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

A reminder about
our big garlic mustard events. Mary Lewis just came back from
flagging spots in Palisades we need to look at, with good
news. There is less than she expected, due to efforts from
volunteers like you in previous years. So we are definitely
making progress! The ground is thawed, it looks like we'll
have good weather, in the 40's, and only a small chance of
rain.

(Special note to the group of Unitarians who have adopted Twin
Springs: You will be getting another message about how the GM
has not progressed so rapidly at Twin Springs, so the digging
and pulling has been postponed until April 21.)

Here's the Info:

Spring is taking it’s time but the garlic mustard
isn’t. Here’s a reminder of our plans for destruction, hope you
can join in.

Garlic mustard Days of Destruction!

Here are the gatherings that the new
organization, Friends of Decorah Parks is planning.

Palisades park: go on the gravel road past the
entrance to the end of the road.

When: Sat. April 13 9:00-noon, April 20
9:00-noon

Plan to arrive not later than 10, as we may be
moving to other locations.

Bring gloves. We’ll have hand diggers and hoes,
but we could use more hoes.

If you’ve come in the past, we need your
experience. If not, we need your help.

We need a lot of eyes out there.

FoDP will plan events in other parks. We also
encourage you to think about adopting a plot.

This is a great way to learn about this invasive,
how to stop it, and have the immediate satisfaction of helping
to save our parks.

Send us a message if you’d like to be involved, or
just show up. Also if you know which day you can come, that
would be nice to know.

$3,006.82
in Judy’s Park and Rec DHPT Account (no change from last month)

$881.03 in
the checkbook.

Minutes
from the Last Meeting

Reports of
Officers, and Committees

Unfinished
Business

1.Iowa Bike Coalition Meeting (Nothing
new)

2.Trail Clarity and Signage (continued discussion)

General
consensus reached to NOT place more maps in key areas on the trails. Remove map
holders at trail kiosks and put the map website URLs there prominently. The
main rationale for not putting up more maps is “Where does it end?” We have
marked all the major intersections and put up four large kiosks, and maps are
available on smartphone apps and on the internet.It was suggested that we mark a couple of routes (one long
and one short) with colored dots on the trail markers.

4.Updated e-mail list.

Lars is
working on this.

5.Fundraising/Sponsorships
for 2013

Fundraising
letters are out to past sponsors.Follow-up will commence shortly.

New
Business

1. Trail work for 2013

There are several trees down on the new “Beginner Trail” on
the River Trail.Trails will need
raking before the Time Trials in a few weeks.We will schedule a trail workday at the appropriate time
when the trails are dry enough. Members are asked to watch for the e-mail when
it is finally dry enough to get out for a big day. There was some discussion on
the Right of Way construction/damage on The Luge.We will need to wait to see what REC has in mind to possibly
restore the landscape when they are done with their line work.

2. Time Trials (update)

3.Chainsaw Safety Equipment. Voted unanimously to purchase two sets of
safety wear to go along with the clubs two chainsaws.Two uni-fit helmets with ear/noise protection and screen
faceguards; two sets of safety chaps (one Size L, and the other size M), and
two pairs of safety (anti-vibration) gloves (one pair Med. One pair Large) have
been ordered along with various other supplies for the saws and the weed
whippers. Everything should be in early next week.

4.Other Items: Andy Nimrod / Park and Rec. inquired about our interest to
lead some kids’ recreational mountain biking classes for 5 weeks this
summer.All agreed that we would
like to help and that a mid-morning time during the week one day per week for 5
weeks (one hour or so per session) would probably work for those members who
can get away from their work for a short time on weekdays.

Closing

Reminders:

*1st Monday of each month is DHPT Meeting Night.

*2nd Tuesday of each month is TT or Enduro. (as
long as the weather permits!)

*4th Wednesday of each month is TT or Enduro. (as
long as the weather permits!)

Upcoming
races/events:

Saturday, April 27, 2013 --- Decorah Time Trials

Start Race
at 2:00 p.m. Done by 6:00 p.m. Sunday will be a fun club ride day for
anyone staying over after Saturday’s race.

DHPT 2016

Decorah Human Powered Trails builds and maintains over 26 miles of off road single track trails for mounatin bikers, trail runners and hikers in the Decorah Park system as a division of the Decorah Park and Rec Department.